The Dread: The Fallen Kings Cycle: Book Two

by Gail Z. Martin

“My recommendation for this series gets stronger with each book, so just buy it now before I start going door-to-door!”

  —Neolibrarium.com

  “Rather than get bogged down in details or endless back-and-forth dialogues between characters for the sake of argument, Martin keeps things zipping along. For the type of reader who views plot as a way to get the various characters on stage and interacting, however, Dark Haven will be heavenly. The characters are undeniably strong and distinctive, and they get to show off in interesting ways on a regular basis.”

  —Richard Dansky, Fantasy Magazine

  Praise for Dark Lady’s Chosen

  “The air is thick with intrigue, threats and deception that captures the reader and sweeps them into the story. It’s one of those wonderful books you can’t bear to put down. Dark Lady’s Chosen is a satisfying and entertaining read that shouldn’t be missed.”

  —Victoria Kennedy, Midwest Book Review

  “Dark Lady’s Chosen is well written and brings the reader fully into the universe… For fantasy lovers and those who just love a damn good story, Dark Lady’s Chosen and the Chronicles of the Necromancer are the perfect read.”

  —Epheros.com

  Names and Places in The Dread

  Aberponte— The Isencroft royal palace

  Adares— The name the Western Raiders call themselves

  Aidane— A ghost whore who finds herself at the center of political unrest because she bears messages from the dead

  Alcion— A traitor to the Eastmark crown, uncle of Prince Gethin; wrongfully court-martialed Jonmarc Vahanian years ago

  Aldo the Wise— Long-ago king of Isencroft

  Alle— Niece of Lady Eadoin, wife of Ban Soterius, former spy during the rebellion against Jared the Usurper

  Allestyr— Seneschal to the monarch of Isencroft

  Alvior of Brunnfen— Traitor to Isencroft, brother of Cam, Carina, and Renn

  Alyzza— Powerful elderly sorceress now presumed mad; a friend of Tris’s grandmother, Bava K’aa

  Ansu— Vayash moru mage

  Antoin— Vayash moru assigned to protect Kiara

  Ashtenerath— Men who have been turned into mindless weapons by a combination of blood magic, potions, and torture

  Astasia— One of the vayash moru Blood Council, now gone rogue and presumed to have joined enemy forces

  Athira/The Whore— One of the eight aspects of the Sacred Goddess

  Avencen— Eastmark diplomat and adviser to Prince Gethin

  Balaren— Vayash moru soldier assigned to protect Kiara

  Ban Soterius— Margolan general, close friend of Tris Drayke, a leader of the rebellion against Jared the Usurper; married to Alle

  Bava K’aa— Tris’s maternal grandmother, a famed and powerful sorceress who fought the Obsidian King and who mentored Tris in magic

  Benhem— A clever Isencroft mage

  Berwyn (Berry) —Queen of Principality, daughter of King Staden, friend of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian

  Bez— Tattooed drum player in a roving band of musicians

  Black Robes— Also known as Shanthadurists; blood mages and devotees to the banished goddess Shanthadura the Destroyer

  Brightmoor— Lady Eadoin’s manor

  Brother Albert— Monk who tends the dying in Ford’s Crossing

  Brother Felix— Monastic mage who is an adviser to Kiara

  Brother Gernon— A crazy fire mage formerly held in Vistimar

  Brunnfen— The manor held by Cam and Carina’s family

  Buka— A mass murderer in Principality City

  Cal— Drone player in a group of traveling musicians; partner to Nezra

  Cam— Queen’s Champion of Isencroft, Lord of Brunnfen, twin brother to Lady Carina Vahanian, close friend of Kiara’s; brother to Renn and Alvior the traitor

  Captain Remir— Loyal soldier to Kiara

  Captain Vyn Lange— Captain of a garrison protecting Brunnfen

  Carina— Twin sister of Cam, wife of Lord Jonmarc Vahanian, former court healer to King Donelan, cousin to Kiara, one of the most gifted healers in the Winter Kingdoms

  Carroway— Master Bard of Margolan, close friend to Tris Drayke, married to Macaria

  Cerise— Personal healer to Kiara

  Ceshilban, of Clan Dromlea— One of the ghostly Clan Lords of Isencroft

  Cheira— A shaman leader among the Sworn

  Chenne the Warrior— An Aspect of the Sacred Goddess, especially revered in Isencroft

  Childe— An Aspect of the Sacred Goddess, especially revered in Margolan

  Clan Dromlea— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Dunlurghan— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Finlios— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Kirylu— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft; led by Olek, son of Olek, the last of the great warlords

  Clan Rathtuaim— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Skaecogy— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Tratearmon— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Clan Veaslieve— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft

  Coalan— Valet to Tris Drayke, nephew of Ban Soterius

  Cora— Ghost of Ed the peddler’s wife

  Corinn— Daughter of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian

  Count Renate— Loyal noble of Isencroft, regent until Kiara takes the throne

  Crofters— Residents of Isencroft

  Curane— Traitor lord in Margolan, loyal to Jared the Usurper

  Cwynn— Infant son of Tris Drayke and Kiara Sharsequin

  Daciana— Advisory spirit to the Hojun

  Dagen— Ghostly liegeman to King Larrimore, Tris’s grandfather

  Dark Haven— Manor home and land holding of Lord Jonmarc Vahanian, given to him by King Staden

  Darry— Court arms master of Isencroft and loyal friend to Kiara

  Davin— Messenger from King Harrol

  Detri— Ghost of a wronged woman

  Dhasson— Neighboring kingdom to Margolan, Principality, Eastmark, and Nargi; ruled by King Harrol, father to Jair Rothlandorn and uncle to Tris Drayke

  Durim— Black Robes, also called Shanthadurists, blood mages loyal to the Destroyer Goddess Shanthadura

  Eastmark— One of the Winter Kingdoms, ruled by King Kalcen, uncle of Kiara and father of Prince Gethin

  Ed— A peddler and friend of Aidane

  Edgeton— An Isencroft general

  Elsbet— Kolin’s dead lover

  Elya— Redheaded air mage

  Emil— Sworn warrior

  Esiteran—“Life drinkers,” demonic shadows that drain energy instead of blood

  Essel— Rogue mage from the Sisterhood who comes to help guard Cwynn

  Estan— Ghostly warrior who served King Hadenrul

  Exeter— Head of the Principality Mercenary Guild

  Formless One— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady; her worship is banned throughout the Winter Kingdoms

  Gar— Round, portable Sworn dwelling

  Gavrill, of Clan Finlios— One of the ancient clan lords

  General Gregor— Isencroft general, older brother to Ric, a mercenary who was a long-ago lover to Carina

  General Senne— Margolan general

  General Valjan— Former leader of the War Dogs mercenaries, Principality general

  Ghent— Second son born to Tris Drayke and Kiara Sharsequin

  Hant— Principality palace spymaster

  Harrol— King of Dhasson, father of Jair Rothlandorn, uncle of Tris Drayke

  Hojun— Mystical priests from Eastmark

  Illarion, of Clan Skaecogy— Ghostly clan lord of Isencroft

  Imri— Temnottan mage and shapeshifter

  Isencroft— Neighboring kingdom to Margolan, formerly ruled by King Donelan; now to be jointly ruled by Kiara, daughter of Donelan, and her husband, Martris Drayke of Margolan

  Istra/Dark Lady— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, e
specially revered in Dark Haven and among the vayash moru; protector of the outcast

  Jae— Gyregon belonging to Kiara

  Jair Rothlandorn— Son of King Harrol and heir to the throne of Dhasson; cousin of Tris Drayke, warrior of the Sworn, married to Talwyn, father of Kenver

  Jared— Eldest son of King Bricen of Margolan, half-brother to Tris Drayke, became Jared the Usurper when he took the throne by treachery

  Jencin— Seneschal of the Principality palace

  Jodd— Faithless husband of Detri

  Jolie— Madam and owner of Jolie’s Place, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian and Tris Drayke

  Jonmarc Vahanian— Former mercenary and smuggler, now brigand lord of Dark Haven; Champion of Berwyn of Principality, husband of Carina, one of Tris Drayke’s best friends

  Jorven— Vyrkin guard to Kiara

  Kai— Infant daughter of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian

  Kalcen— King of Eastmark, son of King Radomar, youngest brother of Kiara’s mother, Viata; father of Prince Gethin

  Kellen— Loyal Isencroft bodyguard

  Kenver— Son of Jair Rothlandorn and Talwyn, grandson of Pevre

  Kiara Sharsequin— Daughter of King Donelan of Isencroft, heir to the Isencroft throne, wife of Martris Drayke of Margolan, cousin of Carina Vahanian, mother of Cwynn and Ghent

  King Donelan— King of Isencroft, father of Kiara Sharsequin

  King Gustaven— Long-dead king of Margolan

  King Hadenrul— Long-dead king of Margolan

  King Jashan— First King of Isencroft, son of Lord Gavrill

  King Larrimore— Long-dead king of Margolan, father of Bricen and grandfather of Tris Drayke

  King Martris (Tris) Drayke— King of Margolan, husband of Kiara, father to Cwynn and Ghent; the most powerful Summoner in the Winter Kingdoms

  King Radomar— Former king of Eastmark, father to King Kalcen and to Kiara’s mother, Viata

  King Staden— King of Principality, father to Berwyn

  King Vestven— Long-dead king of Isencroft

  King Zoccoros the Third— Long-dead king of Isencroft

  Kir— Barkeep in the tunnels beneath Principality City

  Kolin— Vayash moru, leader of the Ghost Carriage, liege to Lady Riqua of the Blood Council

  Konost, the Guide of Dead Souls— Forgotten goddess, one of the Shrouded Ones

  Lady Eadoin— Elderly patron of Master Bard Carroway, aunt of Alle

  Lady Riqua— Member of the Blood Council

  Laisren— Vayash moru, Dark Haven’s weapon master, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian

  Lienholt Palace— Royal palace of Principality

  Leksandr, of Clan Dunlurghan— Long-dead Isencroft warlord

  Lemuel— Mage who was possessed by the spirit of the Obsidian King, lover of Bava K’aa, grandfather to Tris Drayke

  Lisette— Vayash moru lady’s maid to Carina Vahanian

  Lord Alarek— Member of the Principality Council of Nobles

  Lord Antony Norden— Member of the Principality nobility

  Lord Gabriel— Vayash moru, member of the Blood Council, seneschal of Dark Haven, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian

  Lord Gavrill (Clan Finlios) —Father to the first king of Isencroft

  Luka, of Clan Tratearmon— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft

  Macaria— Musician, wife of Carroway, friend to Kiara

  Margolan— One of the Winter Kingdoms; ruled by King Martris Drayke

  Markian— Language spoken in Eastmark

  Marlan the Gold— First king of Margolan

  Martris Drayke— Summoner-King of Margolan, mage heir and grandson of Bava K’aa, husband of Kiara Sharsequin, father of Cwynn and Ghent

  Mihei— Warrior of the Sworn

  Mikhail— Vayash moru, liege of Lord Gabriel, friend to Tris Drayke

  Minya, of Clan Veaslieve— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft

  Morane— Isencroft senior mage

  Mother— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, especially revered in Margolan

  Nachele— Dark spirits entombed in the barrows and guarded by the Dread

  Nardore— Rogue mage of the Sisterhood sent to protect Cwynn

  Nargi— One of the Winter Kingdoms known for its devotion to the Crone Aspect

  Necropolis— Crypt beneath Isencroft palace

  Neirin— Dark Haven grounds manager

  Nenkah— Rag doll used for magical rituals

  Nexus— Magic sword forged by Bava K’aa and given to Tris Drayke

  Nezra— Dulcimer player in a group of traveling musicians, partner to Cal

  Obsidian King— Ancient evil being that possessed the mage Lemuel and was imprisoned in the Soul Catcher by Bava K’aa and later destroyed by Martris Drayke

  Pashka— Margolan fisherman who leads the flotilla

  Patov— Vayash moru guard to Kiara

  Pevre— Sworn chieftain, shaman, father of Talwyn, grandfather of Kenver

  Prince Gethin of Eastmark— Son of King Kalcen, arranged suitor to Berwyn

  Peyhta the Soul Eater— One of the Shrouded Ones

  Pyotir, of Clan Rathtuaim— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft

  Queen Tanisia— Long-dead queen of Isencroft

  Queen Viata— Former queen of Isencroft, wife of Donelan, mother of Kiara, sister to Kalcen of Eastmark, daughter of King Radomar

  Rafe— Vayash moru, member of the Blood Council

  Renn— Younger brother to Cam and Carina

  Rhistiart— Squire to Cam

  Rhosyn— Wife of Cam

  Royster— Scholar, Keeper of the Library at Westmarch, friend to Tris and Kiara

  Sathirinim— An Eastmark vulgarity, literally “corpse flesh,” an ethnic slur against lighter-skinned people

  Scaith— Dark summoner and leader of the Temnottan invasion against Margolan

  Scian— Assassin, one of the ghost blades

  Serg— Vyrkin emissary to Principality

  Serroquette— Ghost whore

  Shanna— Jonmarc Vahanian’s late wife

  Shanthadura, the Destroyer— One of the Shrouded Ones

  Shanthadurists— Blood mages loyal to Shanthadura; also called black robes and Durim

  Shekerishet— Margolan palace

  Shrouded Ones— Trio of dark goddesses whose worship fell out of favor with the cult of the Sacred Lady

  Sinha/The Crone— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, especially revered in Nargi

  Sister Beyral— Mage, rune reader, adviser to Tris Drayke

  Sister Fallon— Mage, adviser to Tris Drayke

  Sister Glenice— Mage, healer, helper to Carina Vahanian

  Sister Rosta— Mage, administrator of the madhouse at Vistimar

  Spirit Guides— Ghostly advisers to the Sworn

  Stelian— Sworn sword

  Surrie— Ghost who leads Aidane into the warrens

  Talwyn— Sworn shaman, daughter of Pevre, wife of Jair Rothlandorn, mother to Kenver

  Tarra— Allestyr’s niece, personal assistant to Kiara

  Telorhan— Elite bodyguards to the Margolan king

  Temnotta— Warring kingdom from across the Northern Sea

  Temnottan— People or things from the kingdom of Temnotta

  Tevin— Principality fire mage

  Thaine— Ghost of a whore who was a long-ago lover to Jonmarc

  Thanal— Flute player, part of a group of traveling musicians

  The Dread— Ancient spirits that guard the Nachele within the barrows

  The Sworn— Nomadic warriors who guard the barrows of the Dread

  Tice— Trusted adviser of King Donelan

  Tolya— Head of the privateers aligned with Margolan